GOVERNER WAVINYA NDETI OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES ROAM'S EXPANSION TO MACHAKOS PARTNERED BY TOTALENERGIES
- Roam has officially expanded into Machakos County, marking its second expansion outside Nairobi after expanding to Kiambu County
- The new outlet, Roam Shop – Machakos, will offer Roam Air electric motorcycle sales, battery charging, and rental services, as well as customer support
- The Roam Shop – Machakos is the 5th location to share space with TotalEnergies, highlighting the growing link between fuel stations and clean energy
- Governor Wavinya Ndeti strongly supported Roam’s expansion, emphasizing its economic benefits to the youth and the environment
- Roam opens a Roam Hub Charging Station in Machakos Town. This station allows riders to access rental batteries at KES 20 per hour, minimizing downtime.
April 30th, Nairobi, Kenya — Roam, Kenya’s leading electric mobility company, has officially expanded its operations to Machakos County, further strengthening its commitment to building a robust electric transport ecosystem beyond Nairobi. Following the successful launch of Roam Shop - Thika in Thika Town, Kiambu County, in November 2024, this new Machakos outlet marks the next step in Roam’s ambitious nationwide expansion plan for 2025. Strategically located at the newly opened TotalEnergies Mua View Service Station, 6 km from Machakos Town along the Kitui Road, the outlet will bring Roam’s innovative electric mobility solutions closer to the community.
The Roam Shop - Machakos will offer sales of Roam Air electric motorcycles, Roam Air battery charging and rental services, after-sales support, and dedicated customer service for the region. The Machakos location adds to Roam’s expanding cooperation with TotalEnergies, which already hosts four Roam Hubs, including Lusaka Road, Karambee in Juja Road, Waiyaki Way, and Outer Ring Road—showcasing how petrol stations are evolving to support clean mobility solutions.
Machakos is renowned for its rugged and elevated terrain, including landmarks like Iveti Hills and Kituluni Hill, where water famously appears to flow uphill. To ensure the Roam Air motorcycle could thrive in such a demanding landscape, Roam deployed five units for hands-on test rides across boda boda stages in the area.
Riders reported outstanding performance even under full loads—thanks to the Roam Air’s 240 kg payload capacity and 58 Nm peak torque. Built with African riders in mind, the Roam Air embodies Roam’s design philosophy: “Designed in Africa, for Africa.”
Machakos riders can charge their Roam Air batteries at home for about KES 80, providing a range of 80–100 km per charge, depending on the driving mode. In comparison, covering the same distance with an internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycle typically requires around 3 litres of fuel, currently priced at KES 175 per litre, according to the Energy & Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). Riders using the Roam Air’s dual-battery feature can cover 160–200 km on a full charge. Those with a single battery can visit the new Roam Hub in Machakos Town to rent a charged battery for KES 20 per hour, helping them avoid downtime.
To make Roam Air more accessible, Roam has brought in financing partners, including M-Kopa, 4G Capital, Mogo, and Watu Credit, offering flexible payment plans starting from as little as a KES 10,000 deposit and KES 460 in daily installments.
Habib Lukaya, Field Operations Manager at Roam: “We’ve always envisioned Roam as a truly Pan-African solution—and that means expanding beyond major urban centers like Nairobi. Machakos presents a perfect blend of opportunity and challenge, particularly with its hilly terrain. The feedback from boda boda riders during our test phase confirmed that the Roam Air can handle these conditions exceptionally well. Our next step is to continue expanding into more counties across Kenya to make clean mobility accessible to everyone.”
Allan Musembi, Chairman of the Machakos Boda Boda Association: “We tested the Roam Air across different stages here in Machakos, and honestly, it’s the best fit for our riders. It handles the hills without a problem, even when carrying heavy loads. Plus, the savings are real — charging at home is much more convenient and cheaper than buying petrol every day. For many of us, this will mean more money going back home to our families. We’re happy to welcome Roam to Machakos.” Roam’s expansion into Machakos is a powerful step in its journey to transform African transportation—one clean ride at a time.
About Roam
Roam, a pioneer in electric vehicle technology, designs innovative public transport solutions tailored for Africa. As an Earthshot Prize finalist and one of the world’s top 100 impact startups on the 2024 Impact/100 list by the Norrsken Foundation, Roam is leading the way in redefining mobility across the continent. Our Roam Air electric motorcycle demonstrated its durability and portable charging capability through a remarkable 6,000 km expedition from Nairobi to Stellenbosch, South Africa.